The problem of edema worries men, regardless of age. The purpose of the article is to answer the question: why are the legs of men below swelling strongly. To do this, you need to understand the causes of this pathology. And later - to choose an adequate treatment.
Causes
The most common sign of leg swelling in men is:
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities, this is the first reason why the legs swell in men in the feet. Edema is mainly localized on the lower third of the leg. It is characterized by the appearance in the morning, and disappears in the evening.
- Venous thrombosis. Edema appears suddenly, the skin acquires a bluish color, there is a sensation of "crawling creeps," the edema is stable throughout the day.
- Lymphodema is a violation of the outflow of lymph. It occurs in men aged 35 years. The limb becomes pale, swelling throughout the day either appears or disappears.
- Orthostatic edema that occurs after surgery.
- Joint swelling with rheumatoid arthritis, which is manifested by pain and stiffness.
- Cirrhosis of the liver, while swelling persists all day, and traces of depression do not disappear for a long time.
- Obesity. Edema occurs with prolonged water retention in the body.
- Allergic edema occurs immediately after contact with an allergen.
- Hypothyroidism, where edema does not respond to physical pressure and is permanent.
- Diabetes. The appearance of edema can provoke a number of complications, such as gangrene, and therefore requires an indispensable consultation by an endocrinologist.
Often the question arises - why do legs swell in men after 50? If edema occurs at this age, then you need to pay attention to chronic diseases and treat them first.
Symptoms
In the early stages, many men may not notice that their legs are swollen. There are a number of symptoms that can help you respond to a problem in time. These symptoms include:
- pain when walking;
- the appearance of discomfort when putting on and wearing shoes;
- heaviness in the lower extremities, manifested in the evening;
- the volume of the legs slightly increases, a swelling appears;
- after pressing, a dent appears on the site of the edema, which passes after a while.
All these symptoms occur because a large load is given to the feet. Why are the legs swollen in men at the ankles? Since the reasons are sorted out, it is worth mentioning that regardless of the part of the legs, the symptoms will be the same.
Signs
Most often, the location of edema in men is noted in the ankle region, which greatly prevents its detection. With such a localization zone, the chance to determine the swelling is visually extremely small. The fact that the fabric is full of liquid can indicate traces of gum socks. With swelling, the skin reacts more strongly to pressure.
Often men can observe edema in their calf area. They are easier to identify visually, and heaviness in the legs will deliver more discomfort. However, the greatest manifestation of symptoms is noted when the feet of the men swell, which is why they may experience the most severe discomfort, accompanied by pain and itching in the legs when wearing shoes.
Caution should be given to edema in other areas, and especially in the knees, as they can often provoke the development of a serious pathology. Any manifestation of edema is not the norm for the body and can cause various consequences with untimely treatment.
Drug treatment
After answering the question of why the legs swell in men (in the calves and other areas), you should start therapy. Drug treatment involves the ingestion of drugs, as well as the use of ointments and creams externally. The most common category of drugs for this pathology is diuretic. Among them, groups of thiazide, loop, osmotic, potassium-sparing and combining agents are distinguished.
In order to choose the right medication, you need to understand the causes of edema.
The first group of drugs is characterized by a slow action, however, it does not impose restrictions on the patient by the amount of fluid and salt consumed.
The second group of drugs is highly effective, which is accompanied by the removal of important trace elements from the body, which causes the need for specialist control.
The name of the potassium-sparing groups of drugs speaks for itself: drugs help preserve macroelements, but give poor results when used. It is reasonable to combine them with other medicines. Osmotic drugs help to remove excess fluid from tissues through the kidneys, as a result of which the group’s drugs are contraindicated in the presence of diseases of these organs.
In the absence of pathologies in men, diuretics are used: Furosemide, Indapamide, etc., whose task is to normalize the water-salt balance and prevent the accumulation of fluid in the tissues.
If edema occurs due to allergies, it is necessary to include antihistamines in the dose: Loratadin, Astemizole, etc.
If the cause of edema is the main disease - impaired activity of the heart or kidneys, medications are used, relaxing vessels and normalizing blood circulation. They are represented by both diuretics (“Bumetanide”), cardiac thiazides (“Moduretic”), and loop diuretics (“Bufenox”).
In case of kidney problems, the combination of drugs of the first and second groups of drugs (“Oxodolin”) is combined. Varicose veins require the use of blood thinners, as well as phlebotonics, which will provide optimal blood microcirculation and prevent blood clots.
Decongestant creams do not solve the main problem, but eliminate undesirable symptoms: fatigue, tension, etc., and also fight inflammation. Effective in the complex treatment of Troxevasin, Lioton.
If the patient is elderly, then edema is a regular occurrence due to metabolic disorders. It is rational to take "Lasix" and ethacrylic acid even with severe edema.
Birch
In the fight against edema, birch helps very well. You need to take a teaspoon of buds or dry leaves and pour 1/2 cup boiling water. You need to insist the medicine for twenty minutes, then divide the resulting product into three parts and drink it three times a day. This treatment should be continued for one month.
Parsley
Parsley is one of the most common treatments. The root and leaves of the plant are crushed using a meat grinder. Take one tablespoon of the resulting raw material and pour a glass of boiling water, wrap it in a warm towel and leave it overnight in a warm place. In the morning, the resulting infusion is filtered, lemon is added to taste. Drink the medicine one tablespoon every hour. This treatment lasts only three days.
Sea salt
Baths with sea salt can be used not only in the fight against edema, but also as a daily preventive measure. To do this, take one tablespoon of sea salt per three liters of water (with a temperature of 35 degrees). The duration of the procedure is not more than fifteen minutes, the course of treatment should be two months, at least three procedures per week.
Nettle
Nettle also has a positive effect on the body. The crushed roots of the plant, three tablespoons, pour one glass of olive oil, then boil on low heat for about 5-7 minutes. After only as the medicine cools, it is placed in the cold or in the refrigerator. Rubbing with this medicine is carried out in the evening before bedtime for a month.
Burdock
Compress of burdock. Burdock leaves should be washed and slightly dried. Then attach to both legs with the bright side and wrap with an elastic bandage. Hold for about 3 hours. After the first three procedures, swelling of the legs will decrease, and after a full course, ten procedures will disappear altogether.
Dogrose
Rosehip is used as a diuretic for swelling of the legs. Shredded fruits with leaves of a bush or a ready-made filter bag should be poured with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 5-10 minutes. Then you can drink this tea 2-3 times a day.
Garlic
Garlic can also be used, one head needs to be crushed and pour 1/2 liter of hot water, bring to a boil, then let it brew to room temperature. Rinse the washed feet in a decoction, and then rub into the soles and calves.
Exercises
If you have to sit often and for a long time in one place, a person definitely needs to periodically do various exercises that will help get rid of swelling of the legs. You need to know that the exercises for the feet are performed only while standing. For this exercise, you need to stand on each foot for about twenty to thirty seconds - this is necessary to restore normal blood circulation in the feet, you also need to periodically, taking off your shoes, walking on toes, jumping on toes will also not be out of place.
If you perform exercises against swelling of the legs while sitting, then you should know: these exercises are performed without shoes, you need to evenly move the feet clockwise or counterclockwise. You can also perform other exercises: sitting, bend your toes either up or down, and then sharply change their direction in the opposite direction, which will help blood circulation in the feet. It is also useful to alternate between closing and opening toes.
Performing these exercises, a person throughout the working day may not worry about the problem of swelling of the legs.
Prevention of leg edema in men
Preventing swelling of the legs is easier than curing. If its appearance is not associated with serious diseases requiring the help of doctors, the preventive measures described below will completely help to avoid this problem:
- Do not wear tight shoes and socks with tight elastic bands that impede the normal circulation of blood in the limbs.
- A strong reduction in drinking will not be beneficial, you just do not need to drink plenty of fluids before bedtime.
- It would be good to refuse carbonated drinks.
- Reduce the use of salted and smoked foods, they retain fluid in the body.
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
- If possible, take a horizontal position during the day (or at least put your feet on a hill).
- Stroking the legs along the lymph (from the bottom up) relieves fatigue and prevents stagnation.
- The use of fresh vegetables and fruits has a beneficial effect on the health of blood vessels.
- A warm bath is a pleasant and effective tool.
- A bathhouse and a sauna (in the absence of contraindications) will then drive away excess water.
- It is recommended to include in your daily diet products that are natural diuretics, such as tea, coffee, broth of wild rose, rice, viburnum.
These simple rules will have a positive effect not only on the legs, but also on the whole body.